FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology. Based in Manchester, NH, the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity designs accessible, innovative programs that motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills.
FIRST® is More Than Robots. FIRST® participation is proven to encourage students to pursue education and careers in STEM-related fields, inspire them to become leaders and innovators, and enhance their 21st century work-life skills.
All Wired Up FIRST ® Robotics Competition (FRC) team is an all-inclusive Youth Robotics team for middle school and high school students with members from surrounding South Lake County schools (public and private) as well as home-schooled students. We do accept students from anywhere in Lake (or surrounding) County. We promote science and technology while developing vital life, career and leadership skills. We won’t only build robots, but also relationships, friendships and futures.
All Wired Up was formed in June of 2019 in partnership with the City of Groveland to promote the area’s youth STEM education opportunities to national businesses looking to expand into an up and coming area as we help to begin the training of the future workforces for those companies. Companies such as Ocado, Kroger and Amazon have been presented with this program which can help lead to their future workforces here in our area.
We are proudly sponsored by the City of Groveland and by Mom’s Guide to Robotics.
Building robots is only one aspect of what this new team offers. FIRST® Robotics furnishes hands-on learning experiences that provide opportunities in graphic arts, finance, business, journalism, social media, community outreach, public relations, fundraising, marketing, art, crafts, web design, programming, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering. There is something to meet everyone’s talents and desire to learn on an FRC team.
FRC teams provide STEM training and technology expertise to teenagers on industry standard hardware and software. The opportunities presented serve to furnish students with insight and experience regarding technology based concepts and applications. The skills are acquired through an atmosphere of competition and teamwork in a hands-on environment.
In addition to building robots, we also have a strong community presence. All Wired Up strives to be active participants in community events, festivals and various local charities throughout South Lake County.
Our team also needs volunteers to help mentor team members and teach skills related to mechanical, programming and electrical disciplines as well as mentors to work with students in the areas of business, public relations and fundraising.
We operate as a non-profit organization that relies solely on donations and sponsorships. Donations are needed to provide students with up-to-date tools and equipment for STEM education. Funding is also necessary to support our team’s participation in FIRST® events and robotics competitions. We will be looking for sponsorships from as many local businesses as we can. We currently work with Mom’s Guide to Robotics, a registered 501(C)3 organization, to provide donors tax-deductible benefits.
All Wired Up meets every Monday from 6:30-8:30pm at our Groveland clubhouse at 441 South Main Street, Room 205.
From the first Saturday in January when the FRC Competition for the year is announced, we have 6+ weeks to design, build, program and test a robot to play the game. During this ‘Build Season’ we meet Monday through Friday evenings from 6:30-8:30pm and Saturdays from 10am to 2:30pm in our workshop. Team lunches on these Saturdays are a great time to get to know others on the team.
We then enter Regional Competition season and resume our weekly schedule as we prepare for the Orlando Regional. The Regional competition runs Thursday through Saturday and if you want to really find out what FRC is about, attendance at this event is the only way. Thursday is setup and practice and Friday and Saturday are competition days. Saturday afternoon sees the final elimination rounds. 24 teams go into these as 8 alliances of 3 teams each and the winning alliance goes to the World Finals in Houston in April.
For the remainder of the year we are involved in recruitment of students, demonstration visits, exhibitions at community events, fund-raising and training.
All Wired Up - FRC Robotics 